Connecting means for sectional poles



Jan. 9, 1940. R. E. McMACKlN 2,186,753

CONNECTING MEANS FOR SECTIONAL POLES Filed Jan. 21, 1938 MwzMM/wm gmmrm,

Patented Jan. 9, 1940 'uNrriaD STATES CONNECTING MEANS FOR SEGTIONAL POLES Robert Earl McMackin, Dallas, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated, New York, N.

corporation of New York Application January 21, 1938, Serial No. 186,202 2 Claims. (01; 287-103) This invention relates generally to means for connecting sections of tamping poles such as those utilized in loading charges of explosives, which are to be detonated to produce artificial seismic waves.

In geophysical exploration work of the type generally referred to as the reflection method, the charge of explosive, which generates the seismic waves, is detonated at the bottom of a hole, ranging in the neighborhood of 50 to feet in depth. Due to the fact that inmany areas these holes are drilled through strata of materials which would tend to cave in and fill up that portion of the hole below the strata, it is often necessary to case the holes. The size of the casing usually employed, ranges in diameter from two and one-half to three and one-half inches, depending upon the dimensions of the slug of explosive.

When loading charges of explosives which are made up of one or more slugs of cross-sectional area closely approximating that of the inside dimensions of the pipe or casing, they often become lodged on the irregular inner surface of the casing, and it is necessary to use a tamping pole to force the slugs by the obstruction. It is obvious that such a tamping pole, of the desired length when made in one piece, would be im-, practical to handle, therefore, it becomes necessary to provide means whereby sections of a predetermined length may be assembled into a single tamping pole of the desired length. Heretofore considerable difficulty has been encountered due to the fact that these sections become disconnected one from the other and that no means are provided for fastening them together so that when applying a torsional, compressional or tensile force to the pole, there will be no danger of them becoming disjointed.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide means whereby a plurality of sections of tamping poles may be detachably fastened together to form a tamping pole of the desired length to which torsional, compressional or tensile forces may be applied.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when considered with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one section of a tamping pole having connecting means, as contemplated by this invention, secured to the ends thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the ends of two sections of the tamping pole in a position illustrating the initial stage in the process of securing them together;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in sec-. tion, of the ends of adjacent sections of a pole" showing them in the position that they will occupy just before the final step of connecting the poles is attained; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the connection between two adjacent sections showing the two interlocked sections in operable position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly to Figure 1, there is shown connected to the top end of the pole section I, that is preferably formed of wood, metallic members 2 and 3. These members are formed from a material such as strap iron or steel, and are of a width approximating that of the pole. The strap 2 is bent inwardly to form a right angle at a point adjacent to its outer end but suificlently far from the end of the wood section to permit coupling with another unit. The piece of strap material 3, on the opposite side of the pole, extends from the end of the wood section-a distance such that its outer end 4 will become flush with the outer surface 5 of the bent portion of strap 2. The end 4 of strap 3 is spaced from the end of strap 2, a distance substantially greater than the thick:- ness' of the strap, to permit the passage of a secand strap between these two members. The two straps thus described, can be secured to the wood section of the pole by any suitable means, such as machine screws 6, as illustrated .in Figure -1. The cooperating member 1 or the connecter, as shown on the bottom end of the section shown in Figure 1, is formed from a single piece of strap iron or other metal. This piece of material is of approximately the same width as the wood section, and after having been bent to a substantlally U-shape, is secured to the pole by suitable means, such as the machine screws 8. It will be noted that the U-shapedinember forms with the end of the wood section, 'a rectangular opening IU- of dimensions sufficiently great that the bent portion 5 of the strap member 2 when placed on the shot hole casing 9 with one end as illustrated.

in Figure 2 extending upwardly. Then while holding this section of the tamping pole in vertical position the end of another section of the pole having the fittings illustrated at the bottom of Figure 1, is held at right angles to the first section, and slipped into the opening and raised to its vertical position as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, thereby causing a relative rotation of the one fitting within the other to form a joint which can not be disconnected without moving one section to a position at right angles to the other.

Additionally, it will be noted that such a union of the two sections will permit the application of torsional force, as well as tensile or compressional forces to the pole composed of these sections without the possibility of disjointing them within the hole.

I claim:

1. A joint construction for use in connecting adjacent rigid sections of a tamping pole comprising, a fitting defining a yoke, said fitting being attached to one end of a rigid section and including axially extending side portions and a wide substantially flat transverse bar, and a generally corresponding fitting on the corresponding end of an adjacent rigid section, said second fitting being provided with a slot to permit the passage of the first fitting therethrough when the rigid sections are arranged in any one 01' a plurality of positions at right angles to each other, the spaces defined by said first and second fittings being such as to permit the alignment of respective tamping poles in tandem relation after connection is made from any one 01' the plurality of positions.

2. A joint construction for use in connecting adjacent rigid sections of a tamping pole comprising, a yoke, the depending portions of which engage along the side wall of a rigid section, said yoke and the end of said pole together defining a space therebetween, the transverse bar of saidj yoke and the depending portions thereof presenting substantially fiat surfaces, and a. yoke-like structure conforming in configuration to said yoke mounted on the cooperating end of an adjacent rigid section, said yoke-like member being provided with a slot to permit the passage of the yoke therethrough when the rigid sections are arranged in any one of a plurality of positions which are at right anglesto each other, the transverse portion of the yoke and the yoke-like member being so positioned and spaced from the end of its respective pole as to permit the alignmerit of respective tarnping poles in tandem relation after connection is effected from any one of the plurality of positions, said yoke-likelmemher and the end of the next adjacent pole being in engagement for substantially the entlrecrosssectional area of the rigid sections when said sections are in articulated position and the surfaces are in mutual engagement.

. ROBERT EARL McMAC'KIN. 

